Sampling device for wells



APlll 7, 193l w. P. JOHNSON SAMPLING DEVICE FOR WELLS 'Filed July 24, 195o Patented pr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM I?. JOHNSON, OF DAISETTA, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO SIDNEY LEE FUDGE, OF DAISETTA, TEXAS SAMPLING DEVICE FOR WELLS Application filed July 24,

The invention relates to devices for securing samples of the liquids in different strata as well boring or drilling proceeds, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved sampling device employing a barrel adapted to sustain a substantial vacuum, and providing means by which the liquid contents of a sand strata may be forced into the barrel by atmospheric pressure to replace the vacuum and to hold the material' in the barrel for sampling purposes.

The inventions will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved sampling device showing the operating stem in positionto lower the barrel into the well,

Figure l2 is a similar View showing the rod in the position when the barrel has reached the strata from which a sample is to be taken and preparatory to taking the sample,

j Figure 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the position assumed when the sample is being taken, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail.

In the drawings similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The improved sampling device includes a tubular barrel 1 having at its upper end a cap 2 provided with an opening 3 in which is slidably mounted a stem 4 that is adapted to be secured to a drilll stem 5 or other lowering means. The stem 4 has a head 6 on the end inside of the barrel and provided with a threaded enlargement 7 surrounding the stem adapted to engage in a threaded socket 8 in the cap when the device is in the position shown in Figure 1 to lower the barrel into the well, and a threaded projection 9 on its underside that is adapted to iit in a threaded socket 10 in the head 11 of a plunger 12 slidably mounted in the barrel. The enlargement 7 is adapted to be unscrewed from the socket 8 and lowered and screwed into the socket 10, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The threaded enlargement 7 and the projection 9 are referabl as shown conical in sha e and the sockets 8 and 10` are also conical to 1930. Serial No. 470,440.

provide means for guiding the parts into one another in the operation of the device.

13 indicates a packing member in the lower end of the barrel 1 and 14 a packing member intermediate of the ends of the barrel, said packing members slidably mounting the plunger 12 and providing an air and liquid tight engagement therewith. The packings 13 and 14 may be of any suitable material such for instance as felt, rubber, or any other material that will provide air and liquidtight engagement with the plunger, and said packings are held in position by means of disks 15 secured above and below the packing by screws 16 or other suitable fastenings driven through the barrel.

The lower end of the plunger 4l2 is provided with a tubular channel 17 closed at the lower end of the plunger as shown at 18, and 19 indicates an opening through the wall of the tubular channel adjacent to its upper end, and minute openings in the walls of the channel adjacent to the lower end thereof, said minute openings providing a sand screen to exclude larger particles of sand and admit liquid therethrough and into the 'channel when the device is in use as will be hereinafter described.

The openings 19 and 20 are covered by the packing members 14 and 13, respectively, in one position of the plunger 12, and to hold the plunger in this position an expansible coil spring is provided as shown at 21 and terminally engaging the lower packing member and a` Harige 22 on the plunger. Flange 22 is provided with one or more openings 23 to receive lugs or pills 24 on disks 15 engaged by the flange 22, this construction providing for holding the plunger 12 from rotation while the projection 9 is screwed into the socket 10 to actuate the plunger.

The air-tight engagement of the packing members 13 and 14 with the plunger 12, when the plunger is in the position shown in Figure 1 provides means whereby a substantial vacuum may be sustained in the chamber 25 intermediate of the packing members,'and 26 designates a nipple secured in the barrel 1 and communicating with the chamber 25 to which is adapted to be connected afpump or other means for exhausting the air in said chamber, said nipple 26 being provided with a suitable lvalve of any conventional type.

In using the sampling device, after the vacuum has been formed in the chamber 25, the barrel 1 is lowered into the well with the parts shown in the position of Figure 1. When the stratum of yliquid bearing sand is reached the stem 4L isy unscrewed from the socket 8 and lowered and screwed into the socket 10 as shown in Figure 2, and the plunger l2 is then actuated outwardly of the barrel so that the openings 2O will admit the liquid in the sand stratum to flow in through the channel 17 and the openings 19 into the chamber 25 where it will be trapped, the openings 23in the Harige 22 permitting the fiow ofthe liquid from the upper portion of the chamber to its lower end. The plunger is then raised, this movement being assisted by reaction ofthe spring 21 that had been compressed when the plunger is lwered, and when the openings 19 and 20 are again covered by the packings 14 and 13, respectively, the barrel may be raised from the well for inspection of the sample contained therein.

What is claimed is Y 1. A sampling device for wells, comprising a barrel, a stem, detachable means connecting said barrel and stem, a plunger in said barrel, and provided with means to admit material to the barrel, and means to connect said stem and plunger forv actuation of the plunger relatively to the barrel.

2. A sampling device for wells, comprising a barrel, a plunger in said barrel, said plung- .er including a reduced portion having a tubular ,channel therein and openings in. the wall of said tubular channel providing communication with said channel, a packing member secured in one end of the barrel, another packing member secured in the barrel intermediate of its ends, said packing members surrounding` said reduced portion andA -normally closing said open1ngs,valved means for exhausting the air between said packing members, and means to move the plunger to uncover the openings aforesaid and to admit e material therethrough and through the channel into the barrel.

3. A sampling device for wells, comprising a barrel, a tubular plunger in said barrell and having openings in the wall thereof, spaced packings in 4the barrel, surrounding said plunger, and normally closing said openings, valved means for exhausting the air in said barrel between said packing members, and means to move the plunger to uncover the openings aforesaid and to admit material through said openings and tubular lplunger into the barrel.

4. A sampling device for wells, comprlsing a barrel, a tubular plunger in said barrel t and having openings in its wall, spaced packings the barrel, surrounding said plunger,

and normally closing said openings, valved means for exhausting air from said barrel, and means to move said plunger to uncover the openings aforesaid and admit material through said openings and tubular plunger into the barrel.

5. A sampling device for wells, comprising a barrel, spaced packings in said barrel, a valved nipple in the barrel intermediate of the packings, said nipple'being adapted` for use in providing a vacuum in the barrel between said packings, a tubular plunger slidably mounted in said packings and having openings in its wall and providing means to admit material into the barrel between the packings in one position of the plunger, the packings aforesaid covering said openings in another position of the plunger, spring means to hold the plunger in the last mentioned position, and means to actuate the plunger to its first-mentioned position.

6. A sampling device for wells, comprising a barrel, a cap on one end of said barrel and having a threaded socket therein, a packing member in the other end of the barrel, another packing member in the barrel intermediate of said cap and the first mentioned packing member, a plunger slidably mounted in said packing members and provided with a tubular channel, the wall of said tubular channel having openings therethrough that are covered by said packing membersin one position of the plunger, valved means for exhausting the air in said barrel between said packing members, a head on said plunger ha ving a threaded socket therein, a stem slidably mounted in the cap, a head on said stem slidably mounted in said barrel, reduced and threaded members on said head for selective engagement in said sockets, a flange on said plunger and having an opening therein, said flange engageable with the second packing member to limit the inward movement of the plunger, a lug on said packing member engageable in the openingin the ange to prevent rotation of the plunger when in its in- WILLIAM P. JOHNSON. 

